Mass distribution device and molding device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an mass distribution device for supplying a mass of foodstuff starting material to one or more cavities of a mold drum for molding products from the mass, comprising a base member which extends partially around the outer cylindrical circumference of the drum and which has an introduction area through which the mass is the fed to the cavities. The invention further relates to a molding device and to a process for operating the inventive mass distribution device.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a mass distribution device forsupplying a mass of foodstuff starting material to one or more cavitiesof a mold drum for melding products from the mass, the device comprisinga base member which extends partially around the outer cylindricalcircumference of the drum. The base member has an introduction areathrough which the mass is the fed to the cavities. The invention furtherrelates to a molding device and to a process for operating the inventivemass distribution device.

BACKGROUND

Mass distribution devices for supplying as mass of foodstuff startingmaterial to one or more cavities are known to the person skilled in theart, for example from WO 2010/110655. These devices have, however, thedeficiency that especially products with fibers, for example turkey,tend to orient themselves in the direction of the product flow; i.e. incase of a drum, the fibers will orient themselves in the timingdirection of the drum. During cooking, these fibers will shrink in theirlength direction and thus deform the product for example from a roundinto an oval shape, which is not desired.

It was therefore the objective of the present invention to provide amass distribution device, which does not have the deficiencies of thedevices according to the state of the art.

SUMMARY

The problem is attained with a mass distribution device for supplying amass of foodstuff starting material to one or more cavities of a moulddrum for molding products from the mass, comprising a base member whichextends partially around the outer cylindrical circumference of the drumand which has an introduction area through which the mass is fed to thecavities, whereas the base member comprises in the introduction area amultitude of holes through which the mass is pressed into the cavities.

The present invention is related to mass distribution device forsupplying a mass of foodstuff stoning material. This mass is especiallya meat mass, for example from beef, turkey or the like. This mass ispressed into one or more cavities of a rotating mould drum and formedinto products, especially patties.

The mass distribution device according to the present inventioncomprises a base member, which extends at least partially around theouter cylindrical circumference of the drum The base member dampness anintroduction area through which the mass is fed into the cavities of themould drum. This drum rotates continuously or intermittently. Accordingto the present invention, the base member now comprises in theintroduction area a multitude of holes through which the mass is pressedinto the cavities. The base member can be made from metal or plastic,whereas metal is preferred.

Due to these holes, the mass is not oriented in the formed products andthus, in case shrinkage occurs during cooking, the product shrinksuniformly. The base member can he made from metal or plastic, whereasmetal is preferred.

Preferably, the base member comprises an array of holes per cavity.Preferably, the holes in the array are distributed equidistantly. Theholes can have any cross section known to the person skilled in the art,whereas round holes, or holes with a rectangular or square cross-sectionare preferred. These round holes are preferably drilled into the basemember. The holes can have a uniform cross section over their entirelength. In another preferred embodiment holes are tapered from theirinflow to their outflow or the other way round. Each hole can bepartially tapered and can comprise partially a uniform cross section.Preferably the edge of each holes at the inlet and/or the outlet is atleast partially not rounded but sharp in order to facilitate a cutting.

Preferably the holes in the base member are only arranged in the area ofthe cavity below, i.e. the array of holes has essentially the same shapeas the cross section of the cavity below. This preferred embodiment hasthe advantage, that leakage of meat mass between the surface of the drumand the base member is reduced.

In another preferred embodiment, the holes n the base member extendessentially over its entire width. This embodiment has the advantagethat the base member is suitable for a multitude of differently shapedcavities.

The drum can rotate and/or be stationary while it is filled. In thefirst case it can be desirable the extension of the rows in the basemember in the direction parallel to the direction of rotation of thedrum is smaller than the dimension of the cavities parallel to thedirection of rotation of the drum. In case the drum rotates while thecavities are filled with mass, in principal only one row of holes in thebase member is needed. The cavities move past this row and are fittedduring their motion. However it can be desirable to have one or morerows of holes in the base member.

The holes in the base member may have all the same length and/or thesame cross section. However the holes can also vary in length and/or ntheir cross section. In case that the holes differ in length, it ispreferred that the cross section increases with increasing length of theholes, so that the holes all comprise preferably the same flowresistance.

Preferably, the base member is provided exchangeable, so that, forexample, a suitable base member can be chosen for the respective meatand/or mold.

Preferably, the base member is made of several parts. More preferably,each array of holes or the arrays of holes per row is/are provided as aseparate part, preferably as an inlay which can be attached to the basemember, so that, for example, a suitable array of holes can be chosenfor the respective meat and/or mold.

In a preferred embodiment, especially in case the mass comprises fibers,it is preferred that the inventive mass distribution device comprises acutting member in the introduction area, adjacent to the base memberthat cooperates cuttingly with the base member, specifically to cut thefibers of the mass. Preferably, this cutting member is made from metal,especially steel. In a preferred embodiment, the cutting membercomprises an array of holes per cavity, whose holes are, morepreferably, arranged as the holes in the corresponding array in the basemember. While the edges of the cutting member at the mass entry may berounded, it is preferred that the edges of the holes of the cuttingmember at the interface to the base member are sharp so that they cancooperate in a cutting manner with the edges of the holes in the basemember. The cross section of the holes in the base member may beidentical to the cross section of the holes in the base member. However,in a preferred embodiment, the cross section of the holes in the cuttingmember differs from the cross section of the holes in the base member inits size and/or in its shape.

Preferably, the cutting member is provided exchangeable, so that, forexample, a suitable cutting member can be chosen for the respective meatand/or mold.

Preferably, the cutting member is made of several parts. Morepreferably, each array of holes or the arrays of holes per row is/areprovided as a separate part, preferably as an inlay which can beattached to the cutting member, so that, for example, a suitable arrayof holes can be chosen for the respective meat and/or mold. Preferably,the mass distribution device comprises movement means, which areutilized to slide the cutting member relative to the base member andthus achieve the cutting of the mass. Preferably, the cutting member isreciprocated between two positions. Preferably, the cutting member is aflat or curved plate.

In case that the base member comprises inserts, these inserts arepreferably pressed against the drum by a pressure element, for example aspring, or an adjustable pressure element, so that the pressing force ofthe insert against the drum can be selected.

In a preferred embodiment, the mass distribution device comprises ahousing. This housing and/or the base member define a fill chamber, intowhich the mass is pressed, for example by a pump or by a screw, beforeit is forced through the holes in the introduction area of the basemember and then into the cavity. Preferably, in this fill chamber, oneor more inserts are located, which hold, preferably press the cuttingmember against the base member in order to avoid that mass flows betweenthe cutting member and the base member.

In the fill area, preferably at the base member and even more preferablyat the inserts of the base member splitting means, especially a knifecan be provided, in order to, for example, spit the meal mass flowand/or avoid bridge forming of the meat mass. The splitting means can beprovided uniformly with the insert or as a separate piece that isattached to the insert.

In a preferred embodiment, the cutting member is not only utilized tocut the mass but also as a valve in order to increase the flowresistance of the mass distribution device. This can be achieved by atleast partially covering the entry area of the holes in the base memberby the cutting member. In a preferred embodiment, after the filling ofthe cavities is completed, the cutting member covers the entry area ofthe base member at least essentially entirely in order to avoid that themass in the cavities is further compressed and/or to avoid superchargeof the cavities.

In a preferred embodiment, the mass distribution device comprises apressure member, which is located at the inside of the base member, i.e.at the side, which faces the drum. The pressure member is at leastpartially in contact with the circumferential surface of the drum. Morepreferably, the pressure plate is pressed against the circumferentialsurface of the drum. This pressure member is primarily utilized to avoidmass-leakage out of the filling area of the drum. Preferably, onepressure member is located upstream and one pressure member downstreamof the filling area of the drum. The pressure member downstream of thedrum can also be utilized to maintain a certain pressure in the cavityof the drum after it has been filled with mass. The pressure member ispreferably a plate, preferably a bent plate, more preferably a flexiblebent plate, which is preferably made from plastic and which even morepreferred comprises grooves for the pressure elements and/or the seals.In a preferred embedment, the device comprises at least one pressureelement and/or at least one seal, which are located between the basemember and the pressure member. The seal assures that no mass is leakedout of the filling area and preferably presses the pressure memberagainst the drum. The pressure elements press the pressure memberagainst the drum. The pressure members can be, for example, an O-rings.

In a preferred embodiment, the pressure elements and/or the sealelements are adjustable in their size in order to increase or decreasetheir sealing, or the pressing-ability. In a preferred embodiment, thepressure and/or seal elements are hollow O-rings, which can be filledwith a medium, for example air or water, and which can be reversiblyextended depending on their inside pressure. The person skilled in theart understands that the sealing or the pressure effect can be utilizedby the same element.

The inventive mass distribution system is especially suitable for amolding device.

Another subject matter of the present invention is therefore a mouldingdevice for molding products from a mass of foodstuff starting material,comprising a mould drum, which can be displaced in a direction ofmovement by drive means, which comprises at its outer cylindricalcircumference at least one cavity and a mass distribution deviceaccording to the present Invention, for distributing the mass over oneor more cavities.

Another subject matter of the present invention is a process foroperating the mass distribution device according to the presentinvention, whereas the cutting member cuts the mass at least once duringand/or after the filling of a cavity.

The cutting servers preferably the purpose to prevent the holes in theintroduction area from clogging.

If the mass especially the fibers are not out sufficiently, it ispreferred to out the mass several times by for example, making severalstrokes with the cutting member after the filling of one row iscompleted and before the filling of the next row starts. On the otherhand, it may be preferable to make only one stroke after the filling oftwo or more rows, for example one stroke after the fill of three, four,five or more rows of cavities. This preferred embodiment of the presentinvention reduces the loss of structure of the meat. In a preferredembodiment, the pressure of the mass of foodstuff starting material isreduced before during and/or after the movement of the cutting member.

Another subject matter of the present invention is a process foroperating the mass distribution device according to the presentinvention, whereas the cutting member is utilized as a valve for themass during and/or after the filling of a cavity.

The disclosure made to the mass distribution device is also applicableto the other subject matters of the present invention and vice versa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now explained in further detail according to FIGS. 1a-8. These explanations do not limit the scope of protection. Theexplanations apply to all subject matters of the present invention,likewise.

FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, and 1 c show the inventive molding device with a firstembodiment of the inventive mass distribution device.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the inventive mass distributiondevice.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the inventive mass distributiondevice.

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show details of the fill chamber.

FIGS. 5-8 show different arrays of holes with different cross sections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 a-1 c show a first embodiment of the inventive molding devicewith the inventive mass distribution device. The molding device 1comprises a rotating drum, in the present case a counter-clockwiserotating drum, which comprises at its outer circumferential diameter amultitude of rows of cavities 15. In the present case, each rowcomprises five cavities, which are filled and emptied simultaneously.The cavities 15 are filled with a food mass, especially with a meatmass, white the drum is rotating and the formed products are dischargedon a discharge belt 11, which transports the formed products 10, herepatties, away from the inventive molding device. For filling of thecavities 15 with the mass, the inventive mass distributor device 14 isutilized. This device comprises a base member 2, here a base plate,which covers the outer circumference of the drum partially. This basemember can be made from metal or plastic. The base member comprises,here at its center, an introduction area 26, through which the mass isforced into the cavities 15. According to the present invention, as canhe especially seen from FIG. 1 c, the base member 2 comprises in thisintroduction area 26 a multitude of holes, which are in the present casearranged to an array or holes. The introduction area preferablycomprises a multitude of arrays of holes, which are each in alignmentwith a cavity. Since one surface of the base member is flat and one isround, the holes differ in length. In the center the holes are shorterthan at the rim of the array. The holes are in the present casecylindrical and arranged equidistantly and have all the same diameter,which is uniform over its entire length. Since the introduction area 26is, in the present case, flat, and the side of the base member facingthe drum is round, the holes differ partially in length. Directlyadjacent to the base member 2, in the introduction area, the inventivemolding device comprises a cutting member 6, here a cutting plate. Thiscutting member also comprises an array of holes. The cutting member isprovided slideable as depicted by the double-arrow in FIG. 1 c. Duringthis sliding action, a cutting at the interface between cutting member 6and the top of the base member 2 takes place in order to cut, forexample fibers in the mass. The movement of the cutting member 2 isutilized by motor means 23, which push the cutting plate 6 back andforth preferably once during and/or after filling of a row of cavities.The cutting member 6 cannot only be utilized to cut the mass but also asa valve, which increases/decreases the flow resistance of the moldingdevice by covering at least partially the holes 12 in the base member 2by means of the cutting member 6. The inventive molding devicepreferably comprises a housing 4, which is connected to a mass feedmember, for example a pump or a screw, which fills the mass into a fillchamber 20, defined by the housing 4 and/or the base member 2.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the molding device. Essentially,reference can be made to the disclosure according to FIG. 1 c. However,in the present case, the diameter of the holes 12 differ such that holeswith an increasing length comprise an increased diameter in order toassure that the flow resistance of all holes 12 is essentially the same.In the center, the diameter of holes 12 is smaller than at the rim. Thediameter is in the present case uniform over the entire length of theholes.

FIG. 3 shows yet another embodiment of the moulding device. Again,essentially reference can be made to the disclosure according to FIGS. 1c and 2. However, in the present case, the introduction area 26 of basemember 2 and thus the cutting member 6 are bent, so that all holes 12have preferably the same length and the same diameter, which is, in thepresent case, uniform over the entire length of the holes.

FIGS. 4 a and b show details of the fill chamber 20. This fill chamber20 comprises here two inserts 22 with a contact area 21 at their bottom.This contact area is in contact with the cutting member 6 and holds thecutting member down, especially presses the cutting member against thebase member in order to avoid mass leakage between the cutting member 6and the base member 2.

FIGS. 5-8 show different embodiments of the holes 12 in the base memberand/or holes 24 in the cutting member 6. As can be seen from FIGS. 5 a-8a, all holes are arranged to an array per cavity. The holes 24 in thecutting member are arranged in the same array as the holes 12 in thebase member, even though they can differ in size and/or in the shape ofthe cross section. The holes in one are provided equidistantly. FIG. 5shows an embodiment where the holes in the base member are tapered fromthe top to the bottom. FIG. 6 an embodiment with cylindrical holes 12 inthe base member. FIG. 7 shows an embodiment with rectangular or squareholes 12 in the base member. FIG. 8 shows an embodiment with wideningholes from the top to the bottom FIGS. 5 b-8 b show the cutting member 6and the base member 2 during the cutting action. The sharp edges of theholes 24 in the cutting member cooperate during cutting with theadjacent edges of the holes 12 in the base member in ascissor-like-manner. As can be also seen from FIGS. 5 b-8 b, the hoes 12are entirely covered by the cutting member after the cutting iscompleted, so that they function as a valve, in which, in the presentcase, entirely stops the flow of the mass. FIGS. 5 c-8 c show thecutting member 6 in its home position. In this case, holes 24 in thecutting member are aligned with the holes 12 in the base member so thatthe inventive molding device provides least flow resistance.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1 Food product forming apparatus, molding device

2 Base member, base member

3 Fixation means for the cutting member

4 housing

5 pressure member, pressure plate

6 cutting member, cutting plate

7 seal, seal around introduction area, spring element, O-ring

8 pressure element, spring element, O-ring

9 Drum, mould drum

10 molded product

11 Transportation means, belt

12 Hole in base-plate

13 Movement direction of the cutting member

14 Mass distribution device

15 cavity

16 cutting edge of the note in the base member adjacent to the cuttingplate

17 cutting edge of the hole in the base member adjacent to the drum

18 cutting edge at the cutting member

19 side of the cutting plate facing a fill chamber

20 fill chamber

21 contact area

22 insert

23 movement means for the cutting plate

24 hole in the cutting member

25 introduction opening

26 introduction area of the base member

27 array of holes

1. (canceled)
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 10. (canceled) 11.(canceled)
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 14. (canceled)
 15. A processcomprising: operating mass distribution device, which comprises: a molddrum having one or more cavities; a base member which extends partiallyaround an outer cylindrical circumference of the mold drum and which hasan introduction area including: a multitude of holes and a cuttingmember; feeding a mass of foodstuff starting material into the inductionarea; filling the one or more cavities with the mass of foodstuffstarting material; and cutting the mass of foodstuff starting materialat least once during and/or after the filling of a cavity by a movementof the cutting member.
 16. A process comprising: operating massdistribution device, which comprises: a mold drum having one or morecavities; a base member which extends partially around an outercylindrical circumference of the mold drum and which has an introductionarea including: a multitude of holes and a cutting member; feeding amass of foodstuff starting material into the induction area; filling theone or more cavities with the foodstuff starting material; and wherein amovement of the cutting member is utilized as a valve for the mass offoodstuff starting material during and/or after the filling of a cavity.17. The process of claim 15, wherein the base member includes an arrayof holes per cavity and the holes differ in length and/or crosssectional area.
 18. The process of claim 16, wherein the base memberincludes an array of holes per cavity and the holes differ in lengthand/or cross sectional area.
 19. The process of claim 15, wherein theprocess includes a step of sliding the cutting member with a movementmeans.
 20. The process of claim 16, wherein the process includes a stepof sliding the cutting member with a movement means.
 21. The process ofclaim 5, wherein the cutting member is a flat or curved plate.
 22. Theprocess of claim 16, wherein the cutting member is a flat or curvedplate.
 23. The process of claim 15, wherein the mass distribution deviceincludes a housing and the base member and/or the housing define a fillchamber in which an insert is located that holds the cutting memberagainst the base member.
 24. The process of claim 16, wherein the massdistribution device includes a housing and the base member and/or thehousing define a fill chamber in which an insert is located that holdsthe cutting member against the base member.
 25. The process of claim 15,wherein a pressure member is located at an inside of the base member.26. The process of claim 16, wherein a pressure member is located at aninside of the base member.
 27. The process of claim 25, wherein the atleast one pressure element and/or one seal is located between the basemember and the pressure member.
 28. The process of claim 26, wherein theat least one pressure element and/or one seal is located between thebase member and the pressure member.
 29. The process of claim 27,wherein the pressure member is a bent plate, made from plastic with agroove for the pressure element and/or the seal elements.
 30. Theprocess of claim 28, wherein the pressure member is a bent plate, madefrom plastic with a groove for the pressure element and/or the sealelements.
 31. The process of claim 29, wherein the process includes astep of adjusting a sealing-effect or a pressure-effect of the pressureelement and/or seal.
 32. The process of claim 29, wherein the processincludes a step of adjusting a sealing-effect or a pressure-effect ofthe pressure element and/or seal.
 33. The process of claim 31, whereinthe step of adjusting the sealing-effect or the pressure-effect of thepressure element and/or seal includes increasing the sealing-effect orthe pressure-effect.
 34. The process of claim 32, wherein the step ofadjusting the sealing-effect or the pressure-effect of the pressureelement and/or seal includes increasing the sealing-effect or thepressure-effect.